Storage and display carton



Aug. 22, 1967 D. P. EBELHARDT 3,337,032

STORAGE AND DISPLAY CARTON I Filed Sept. 29, 1964 I N VEN TOR.

DAVID P EBELHAT W772 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,337,032 STORAGE AND DISPLAY CARTON David P. Ebelhardt, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 400,079 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to storage and display cartons and more particularly to such cartons which are specially adapted for packaging bulky items generally in the shape of a cube and wherein square corners are characteristic of the items to be packaged.

It is well known that a six sided carton in the shape of a cube can be formed from a unitary five panel blank. In such a carton economy is achieved and at the same time display of the carton contacts is accommodated by striking a major area from one of the main panels such as the top or bottom along with portions of two or more side walls and then swinging the struck portion together with its associated side wall panels in such a way that the struck out portion forms the opposite main wall such as the top or bottom of the carton. This type of construction inherently is diflicult to load particularly where the pack aged item or items is shaped and arranged so as to fill the carton completely particularly at its corners. If the shape of the packaged item or items is such as to accommodate ready and easy loading techniques, the package is basically unreliable as a holding and storage carton because the contents tend to become dislodged from the carton unless special means are provided to maintain the package in a secure condition. Furthermore, cartons of this type are ordinarily difiicult to load by hand or by machine due to the fact that the carton panels tend to obstruct the movements attending the loading operation.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a six sided carton from a five panel blank which is specially adapted for free and easy loading even though the contents are such as to completely fill the package including its corners.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved storage and display carton which is not only particularly sturdy but which also is inherently adapted for use in packaging foldable bulky items such as blankets, linen and the like.

The invention in one form as applied to a six sided carton formed from a five panel blank comprises an inner side panel struck from and foldably joined to each of three side walls of the carton together with a supplementary panel struck from one of the main walls such as the top of the carton and foldably joined along three side edges to the three inner side panels respectively. One or more portions of the main panel from which the sup plementary panel is struck serve as one of the basic panels of the carton and may take the form of a main rectangular stabilizing panel and a pair of triangular corner panels which together form the bottom or the top of the carton. According to a feature of the invention a closure panel conveniently may be foldably joined along a side edge of 3,337,032 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 the stabilizing panel and such closure panel when open serves to provide a readily accessible opening through which the contents of the carrier may be inserted by hand or by machine as might be desired. The three side walls to which the inner side panels are affixed are adjoined by web structure and, if desired, similar web structures may interconnect the ends of the closure panels and adjacent ends of the side walls. According to another feature of the invention, a support flap may be foldably joined to the edge of the closure panel remote from its hinge connection with the stabilizing panel.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a carton is constructed according to this invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the completely erected carton; and in which FIG. 3 is a side view of the carton showing the contents disposed within the carton but with the closure panel shown in the open position thereby to emphasize the easy loading feature.

With reference to FIG. 2 the numeral 1 generally designates a setup storage and display carton constructed according to the invention but with the contents removed. In FIG. 2 the numeral 2 generally designates a special platform constructed so as to facilitate viewing of specialty items such as the controls of an electric blanket. In FIG. 2 the platform 2 is shown removed from the carrier although it will be understood that when in its service position platform 2 is mounted within the interior of the carton 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top of the carton consists of a stabilizing panel designated by the numeral 3 and a pair of triangular shaped corner panels designated by the numerals 4 and 5. Stabilizing panel 3 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along fold line 7. In the drawings the numeral 7 is used to designate the fold line between side wall 6 and stabilizing panel 3 as well as between side wall 6 and triangular corner panel 4. Side wall 8 is foldably joined to stabilizing panel 3 and to triangular corner panel 5 along fold line 9. A third side wall 10 is foldably joined to corner panels 4 and 5 along fold line 11.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the top of the carton is made up of the stabilizing panel 3 and of the two corner panels 4 and 5. The bottom of the carton as Viewed in FIG. 2 is formed by the supplementary panel 12 which is separated from stabilizing panel 3 along cut line 13 and from corner panels 4 and 5 by cut lines 14 and 15 respectively.

The supplementary panel 12 is supported by a plurality of inner side panels designated by the numerals 16, 1'7, and 18. Inner side panel 16 is struck out of side wall 6 and is foldably joined thereto along fold line 19. Inner side panel 16 is foldably joined to the left hand edge of supplementary panel 12 along fold line 20. The edges of inner side panel 16 are defined by cut lines 21 and 22 which are respectively extensions of the cut lines 13 and 14.

Inner side panel 18 is defined by cut lines 23 and 24 which constitute extensions respectively of the cut lines 13 and 15 and by the fold lines 25 and 26. The inner side panel 17 similarly is defined by cut lines 27 and 28 which constitute extensions respectively of cut lines 14 and 15 and by the fold lines 29, 30.

In order to erect the carton to the position indicated in FIG. 2 from its condition as indicated in FIG. 1, it is simply necessary to swing the side Walls 6, 8 and 10 downwardly along their respective fold lines 7, 9 and 11 on with the respective side Walls 6, 10 and 8 and into a )sition normal to supplementary panel 12.

For the purpose of securing the ends of the side panels and 14 together at their ends which are adjacent to )rner panel 4, web structure generally designated by the ameral 31 may be utilized. Such web structure may comrise a pair of web panels designated by the numerals 32 1d 33 which are foldably adjoined in known manner long fold line 34. Web panel 32 is foldably joined to the :ljacent end of side wall 6 along fold line 32a. Similarly eb panel 33 is foldably joined to the adjacent end of .de wall 10 along fold line 33a. As is well understood in ie art the web structure is collapsed on itself and forms corner junction when glue is applied to the surfaces of re web panels 32 and 33.

In like fashion the corners of the side walls 8 and 10 lhlCh are adjacent the corner panel are secured toether by web structure generally designated by numeral '5 and which may constitute a pair of web panels 36 and 7 adjoined along fold line 38 in known manner. Web )anels 36 and 37 are foldably joined along lines 36a and i7a respectively to the adjacent ends of side Walls and 5. Thus the corner adjacent the corner panel 5 is se- :ured by an application of glue to the web panels 36 and i7 which effectively holds the panels in flat face contactng relation. Preferably the web structures 31 and are arranged in flat face contacting relation to one of the side avalls, such for example as 6 and 8 when the carton is .oaded.

For the purpose of forming a closure means for the carton which is specially adapted to accommodate easy loading of the contents through a side wall and in the direction designated by the arrow 39 as shown in FIG. 3, a closure panel 40 is provided in accordance with the invention and is foldably joined to the stabilizing panel 3 along fold line 41. As is best seen in FIG. 1, closure panel 40 is interconnected at its end edges with the adjacent ends of the side walls 6 and 8 by web structure generally designated by the numerals 42 and 43. Web structure 42 comprises a pair of web panels 44 and 45 which are interconnected in known manner along fold line 46. Web panel 44 is foldably joined to the adjacent end of side wall 6 along fold line 44a while web panel 45 is foldably joined to the adjacent end of closure panel 40 along fold line 45a.

Web structure 43 likewise constitutes a pair of web panels 47 and 48 which are interconnected in known manner along fold line 49. Web panel 47 is foldably joined to the adjacent end of closure panel 40 along fold line 47a while web panel 48 is foldably joined to the adjacent end of side wall 8 along fold line 48a.

When closure panel 40 is in closed position depicted in FIG. 2, web structure 42 and 43 is collapsed and is disposed in flat face contacting relation to the inner surface of closure panel 40 as will be understood by those skilled in the art. When closure panel 40 is disposed in the open position web structures 42 and 43 are depicted at 42 in FIG. 3. Thus in accordance with a feature of the invention, the web structure automatically swings outwardly and into position of general parallelism with the associated side wall so as to afford free and unobstructed passage of the items to be packaged into the interior of the carton. After the contents are disposed within the interior of the carton following a loading operation, closure panel 40 is swung downwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 in a counterclockwise direction about the fold line 41. This operation causes the web structures 42 and 43 to collapse into fiat face contacting relation to the ends of the closure panel 40. When closed the web structures 42 and 43 not only form a secure and automatically operable corner closure means for the corners of the carrier adjacent the closure panel 40, such web structures also form reinforcement for the ends of the closure panel which reinforcement does not interfere in any way with the packaged item.

For the purpose of providing support for the packaged contents in the region of the carton immediately below the stabilizing panel 3 and adjacent to closure panel 40, a support flap 50 is foldably joined along fold line 51 to the bottom edge of closure panel 40. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, support flap 5t lies in the same plane as the supplementary panel 12 and aids that panel in supporting the packaged item. If desired, the support flap 50 could be extended to meet the supplementary panel 12 and may be afiixed thereto by glue or other suitable means so as to provide a complete bottom panel for the carton.

As explained, a carton constructed according to this invention is particularly Well adapted to use in packaging bulky foldable items such as blankets and is particularly useful in packaging electric blankets. For example in FIG. 3, the letter B is used to designate an electric blanket which is folded in such a way as to make room for the controls in the upper left hand portion of the carton as viewed in FIG. 3. Since the controls are an important item from the standpoint of the purchaser of the blanket, it is desirable in packaging to display the control. For this purpose a window generally designated in FIG. 2 by the numeral 52 may be formed in the stabilizing panel 3. The window 52 is formed by a pair of door-like panels 53 and 54 which are separated along a cut line 55. These panels 53 and 54 are simply struck from the stabilizing panel 3 and respectively are foldably adjoined thereto along their hinge lines 56 and 57. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the door-like panels are folded inwardly and serve as background panels for the control elements.

In order to form a holding and positioning support for the controls designated in FIG. 3 by the letter C, the platform 2 is mounted beneath stabilizing panel 3 and below the controls. This pltaform preferably comprises a pair of panels 58 and 59 foldably joined along fold line 60 and preferably utilizes end tabs 61, 62, 63 and 64.

From the description above it is apparent that an improved display and storage carton is provided which is sturdy, economical as well as attractive in appearance and which is characterized by a great degree of facility in loading and unloading.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A carton formed from a unitary blank comprising a rectangular stabilizing panel, a first side wall foldably joined along one end edge of said stabilizing panel, a second side wall foldably joined along the other end edge of said stabilizing panel, said side walls each having a protruding end portion extending beyond one side edge of said stabilizing panel, a pair of inner side panels struck respectively from the protruding portions of said first and second side walls and from areas thereof which are disposed adjacent to said stabilizing panel, a supplementary panel having its end edges foldably joined to the ends of said inner side panels, a pair of corner panels each having a side edge thereof foldably joined respectively to an edge of said first and second side walls, a third side wall foldably joined to the edges of said corner panels which are normal to the edges adjoined to said first and second side walls, a third inner side panel struck out of said third side wall and foldably joined thereto at one end and to an edge of said supplementary panel at the other end, said inner side panels being disposed in flat face contacting relation with the inner surface of their respective side walls and said supplementary panel forming a side of said carton which is remote from said stabilizing panel and from said corner panels, a closure panel foldably joined to a side edge of said stabilizing panel which is remote from said corner panels, a support fiap foldably joined to the edge of said closure panel which is remote from said stabilizing panel and normally disposed when closed in substantially the same plane as said supplementary panel, web structure interconnecting each end edge of said closure panel and the adjacent end of said first and second side walls, and web structure interconnecting each end of said third side wall and the adjacent ends of said first and second side Walls.

2. A carton formed from a unitary blank comprising a rectangular stabilizing panel, a first side Wall foldably joined along one end edge nd side wall foldably joined along the other end edge of said stabilizing panel, said side Walls each having a protruding end portion extending beyond one side edge of said stabilizing panel, a pair of ond side walls and from areas thereof which are disposed adjacent to said stabilizing panel, a supplementary panel having its end edges foldably joined to the ends of said inner side panels, a pair of corner panels each having a side edge thereof foldably joined respectively to an edge of said first and second side Walls, a third side wall foldably joined to the edges of said corner panels which are normal to the edges adjoined to said first and second side Walls, a third inner side panel struck out of said third side wall and foldably joined thereto at one end and to an edge of said supplementary panel at the other end, said inner side panels being disposed in flat face contacting relation with the inner surface of their respective side Walls and said supplementary panel forming a side of said carton which is remote from said stabilizing panel and from said corner panels, a closure panel foldably joined to a side edge of said stabilizing panel which is remote from said corner panels, a support flap foldably joined to the edge of said closure panel which is remote from said stabilizing panel and normally disposed When closed in substantially the same plane as said supplementary panel, and a viewing Window disposed in said stabilizing panel. I

of said stabilizing panel, a sec- 3. A carton formed from a unitary blank comprising a rectangular stabilizing panel, a first side Wall foldably joined along one end edge of said stabilizing panel, a second side Wall foldably joined along the other end edge of said stabilizing panel, said side walls each having a protruding end portion extending beyond one side edge of said stabilizing panel, a pair of inner side panels struck respectively from the protruding portions of said first and second side Walls and from areas thereof which are disposed adjacent to said stabilizing panel, a supplementary panel having its end edges foldably joined to the ends of said inner side panels, a pair of corner panels each having a side edge thereof foldably joined respectively to an edge of said first and second side Walls, a third side wall foldably joined to the edges of said corner panels which are normal to the edges adjoined to said first and second side Walls, a third inner side panel struck out of said third side Wall and foldably joined thereto at one end and to an edge of said supplementary panel at the other end, said inner side panels being disposed in flat face contacting relation with the inner surface of their respective side Walls and said supplementary panel forming a side of said carton which is remote from said stabilizing panel and from said corner panels, and a closure panel foldably joined to a side edge of said stabilizing panel which is remote from said corner panels.

References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,420 11/1938 Soybel. 2,435,135 1/1948 Franck.

FOREIGN PATENTS 652,247 11/1962 Canada.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARTON FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR STABILIZING PANEL, A FIRST SIDE WALL FOLABLY JOINED ALONG ONE END EDGE OF SAID STABILIZING PANEL, A SECOND SIDE WALL FOLDABLY JOINED ALONG THE OTHER END EDGE OF SAID STABILIZING PANEL, SAID SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING A PROTRUDING END PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID STABILIZING PANEL, A PAIR OF INNER SIDE PANELS STRUCK RESPECTIVELY FROM THE PROTRUDING PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS AND FROM AREAS THEREOF WHICH ARE DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID STABILIZING PANEL, A SUPPLEMENTARY PANEL HAVING ITS END EDGES FOLDABLY JOINED TO THE ENDS OF SAID INNER SIDE PANELS, A PAIR OF CORNER PANELS EACH HAVING A SIDE EDGE THEREOF FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY TO AN EDGE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS, A THIRD SIDE WALL FOLDABLY JOINED TO THE EDGES OF SAID CORNER PANELS WHICH ARE NORMAL TO THE EDGES ADJOINED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS, A THIRD INNER SIDE PANEL STRUCK OUT OF SAID THIRD SIDE WALL AND FOLDABLY JOINED THERETO AT ONE END AND TO AN EDGE OF SAID SUPPLEMENTARY PANEL AT THE OTHER END, SAID INNER SIDE PANELS BEING DISPOSED IN FLAT FACE CONTACTING RELATION WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS AND SAID SUPPLEMENTARY PANEL FORMING A SIDE OF SAID CARTON WHICH IS REMOTE FROM SAID STABILIZING PANEL AND FROM SAID CORNER PANELS, A CLOSURE PANEL FOLDABLY JOINED TO A SIDE EDGE OF SAID STABILIZING PANEL WHICH IS REMOTE FROM SAID CORNER PANELS, A SUPPORT FLAP FOLDABLY JOINED TO THE EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE PANEL WHICH IS REMOTE FROM SAID STABILIZING PANEL AND NORMALLY DISPOSED WHEN CLOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS SAID SUPPLEMENTARY PANEL, WEB STRUCTURE INTERCONNECTING EACH END EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE PANEL AND THE ADJACENT END OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS, AND WEB STRUCTURE INTERCONNECTING EACH END OF SAID THIRD SIDE WALL AND THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS. 